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THE NATIONAL Broadband Plan mandated last year by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - and unveiled last month by the Federal Communications Commission - would, in the next 10 years, greatly extend Americans' access to the Internet while increasing its speed. But even if all the plan's provisions passed Congress over the strenuous objections of some industry lobbyists (and when was the last time that happened?), the plan would leave the United States well behind other industrial nations, because it would not increase competition enough to lower prices.

Looking for a rare Russian River red from California? Or a taste of Egg Harbor's finest, a 2006 Renault Winery Cynthiana? To pick up their favorite wines, New Jersey residents soon may have to go no farther than their front door. A state Senate committee last week endorsed a bill to permit the shipment of wine directly to consumers from in-state and out-of-state wineries. An identical bill has been introduced in the Assembly, and Gov. Christie is reviewing the issue, a spokesman said.

"Who wants to be first?" Howard Herbert asked the men gathered before him. Eugene Gaynor accepted the slab of wood and tape measure. He calculated the dimensions, then read them off: three-quarters of an inch thick, 9 inches wide, 9 7/8 inches long. He was wrong, Herbert said - off by an eighth of an inch. It was an important difference, the instructor reminded his class in the shop room of Burlington City High School. Once imprisoned for burglary and theft, the 48-year-old Gaynor joined 10 other men this week in a newly expanded city program called Vision of Hope that trains and provides subsequent employment in the construction trades for ex-offenders struggling to reenter society.

Pennsylvania's top moneymaking casino just got bigger. Crowds braved the morning chill - with some venturing out in the predawn hours to be among the first to walk through Parx Casino's glass double doors for its 6 a.m. grand opening today. The $250 million facility is a larger and fancier version of the old PhiladelphiaPark Casino and Racetrack on Street Road in Bensalem, next to which it sits. "It's beautiful," said retiree Andrea Malloy, 60, one of the first to gamble at the Parx this morning.

Here are some of the things a blown save overshadowed last night: The end of the Phillies' deep offensive malaise. A lineup that overcame the loss of Chase Utley, out with a bruised foot. A quality start by Joe Blanton. Brett Myers' effective return from hip surgery. No matter what the Phillies do during closer Brad Lidge's bad games, their efforts are always marred by his struggles. With last night's 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park, Lidge has squandered 10 save opportunities this season.

Those new smart meters Peco Energy Co. and other utilities will install soon are being touted as money-savers that will give customers more control over their electric bills. But for the utilities, the meters' real worth lies in the information generated, including details that some customers might prefer remained secret. Already, Peco is analyzing daily readings to spot thieves who intermittently bypass the meters and steal power. And experts looking at meter data can discern the telltale signs of illicit activity, such as a marijuana "grow house.

Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr., South Jersey's most influential sitting lawmaker, said yesterday he will not seek reelection this fall, signaling the end of his 22-year Assembly career. His decision, long rumored, sparked a flurry of speculation about who would succeed him in one of Trenton's most powerful seats and whether fellow South Jersey Democrat Stephen M. Sweeney could assume the region's mantle in a bid for the Senate presidency in November. Roberts, who helped build South Jersey's once-small Democratic delegation into a powerful voting bloc, sounded yesterday like a man who would be happy to be away from the hassles of politics, but maybe not for very long.

Thanks to Shawn Andrews' aching back, Winston Justice is getting another chance at this Eagles training camp. With Andrews sidelined since going through the team's conditioning run Thursday morning, Justice has received the majority of first-team snaps at right tackle. It appears he could continue to get them, too, because there's no indication that Andrews is going to be back on the field any time soon. According to a team source, Andrews' back did not respond well to the 90-minute bus ride from the Lehigh University campus to Lincoln Financial Field and back for the Eagles' Flight Night event Sunday.

Gun-control advocates are praising Gov. Corzine's work to secure the passage of a one-handgun-a-month buying limit, and his reelection team is preparing to use it on the campaign trail. But the law might not be in its final form. Corzine pushed the bill through the Legislature late last month only after agreeing to create a task-force team whose first job will be considering amendments to ensure that collectors, competitive shooters, and recreational gun users "are not adversely affected.

Police arrested a woman yesterday who they say helped plan the execution-style killings of Rian Thal and Timothy Gilmore and let the three shooters into Thal's apartment building last Saturday. They identified the woman as Katoya Jones, 25, who lives in the same building where Thal had an apartment at the Piazza at Schmidts in Northern Liberties. Although Jones was not one of the three people who fired on Thal and Gilmore, police said she played a significant role in their murders.